Closing Arguments Held in 1st Degree Murder Trial

Closing arguments in the 1st Degree Murder trial of 29-year-old Sheridan resident Shawn Osborne took place Thursday morning in 4th Judicial District Court. Prosecuting Attorney Matt Redle began by explaining how Osborne's defense of self-induced intoxication preventing him from having the mental ability to kill Gerald Bloom with premeditated malice and intent holds no water, as all one needs to do is look at his deviant actions on January 15, 2010.

Redle said that Osborne testified that his not remembering the event of slitting and stabbing Bloom's throat, yet being able to remember everything clearly right before and immediately after the incident, is proof that the defendant clearly knew what he was doing, and did it with premeditated malice and intent. Redle pointed out that the State provided a number of witnesses who testified that Osborne, while indeed intoxicated after a night of heavy drinking, was no way inebriated to the point of not knowing what he was doing.

Defense Attorney Robert Jones said that the credibility of one of the State's key witnesses, David Widiker-Fausset should be taken into consideration while deciding upon the verdict. Jones emphasized that Widiker-Fausset played a role in enabling Osborne with alcohol throughout the evening of the the 14th, and that he helped his client hide the body under the trailer.

Jones went on to say that the testimony of Dennis David and Dee Himes were inconsistent, as none of the times that each witness gave lined up accordingly with the facts in the case. Jones also stated to the jury that the fact that his client used a slang word or phrase just prior to entering Bloom's bedroom, is in no way a reason of proof of premeditated malice.

Redle's rebuttal was that Osborne saying to Fausset, “watch this, I'm going to kill the mother-(expletive)" just seconds before entering Bloom's bedroom, clearly shows that the defendant showed premeditated malice and intent.

After Judge John Fenn announced who the alternate juror was, the jury began deliberations at 10:15 am.

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